Discover the basics of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies to unlock exciting new career paths.
2,571 enrolled on this course

Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
6 hours100% online
How it works
A Beginner’s Guide to Becoming a Blockchain Developer with Overledger
Understand the main components of distributed ledgers and blockchains
With the rise of the digital economy, it’s no surprise that cryptocurrencies and blockchains are growing in popularity.
This three-week course from King’s College London and Quant Network will empower you with an understanding of how blockchains and distributed ledgers work as well as their advantages over centralised ledgers.
Once you’ve completed this course, you will have the foundational knowledge that you need to become a blockchain developer.
Be introduced to cryptocurrencies
There are thousands of cryptocurrencies in existence. On this course, you will learn how to develop programs to send and receive payments for BTC, ETH, and XRP.
Importantly, you will also learn about the groundbreaking distributed ledger technology that these cryptocurrencies are built on.
Learn how to build programs that interact with distributed ledger technology
Applications built on distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) are more transparent, promote decentralised control, and are more resilient to software crashes as well as malicious actors.
On this course, you’ll gain the skills needed to create your own applications and programs that can interact with and be built on DLTs.
Study with the specialists at King’s College London and Quant Network
The King’s College Department of Informatics has a long-established leadership in the Distributed Artificial Intelligence domain, which is closely related to blockchain.
Coupled with the DLT know-how of Quant Network, these experts are the perfect guides to help you become a blockchain developer.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to Distributed Ledger Technologies
Ledgers
We first must gain an understanding on what centralised and distributed ledgers are. Only after which can we understand what distributed ledger technologies can offer.
Distributed Ledger Technologies
Now that we have introduced ledgers, centralised ledgers and distributed ledgers, we can start to dive deeper into the different components of distributed ledger technologies.
Week Wrap Up
We complete this week with a discussion and quiz.
Week 2
Distributed Ledger Technology Data Structures
Introduction
A brief introduction on why asset tracking models are important in distributed ledger technologies
The Unspent Transaction Output Model
In this section, you will learn how the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model affects how transactions are formatted, how the current state is structured and how smart contracts are written
The Accounts Model
In this section, you will learn how the Accounts model affects how transactions are formatted, how the current state is structured and how smart contracts are written
Week Wrap Up
We complete this week with a discussion and quiz.
Week 3
Cryptography in Distributed Ledger Technologies
Introduction
In this section, you will be introduced at a high level to the relevant cryptography background.
Cryptography in Distributed Ledger Technologies
In this section, you will be learn about the cryptography that is used in distributed ledger technologies and why it is used.
Course Wrap Up
We complete this week and this course with a summary, discussion and quiz.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate an understanding on what is a ledger and what advantages ledgers implemented in a distributed manner have over ledgers implemented in a centralised manner.
- Develop knowledge of the main components of distributed ledger and blockchain technologies.
- Code your first programs utilising blockchain technologies.
- Identify the differences between the two main distributed ledger technology asset tracking models, the first being the unspent transaction ouput (UTXO) model, and the second being the accounts model.
- Investigate the different uses of cryptography in distributed ledger technologies.
- Design blockchain applications that use Quant's Overledger API Gateway.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for computer scientists or software engineers who would like to explore avenues in blockchain and distributed ledger technology that could lead to new opportunities.
Who will you learn with?
Luke is the head of innovation at Quant Network, a leading company for developing blockchain interoperability solutions.
He has been identified as a key influencer in the UK blockchain industry in 2021
Carmine is a Professor of Computer Science at King's College London, where his research interests include algorithmic game theory, microeconomics and trading in financial markets
Researcher at INESC-ID and Ph.D. student at Técnico Lisboa, studying the intersection of blockchain interoperability and security.
Quant
Quant is the future of finance. Today.
We unlock the power of blockchain for everyone, by delivering interoperable ecosystems and real-world solutions that simply work: lowering costs, enabling new business and mitigating risk.
We work with financial institutions, regulators, multinational companies, and the consultants and fintech developers who support them, to deliver enterprise-grade technology built with security and compliance front of mind.
To find out more, visit quant.network
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
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Choose the best way to learn for you! | $94/one-off payment | $19.99 For the first month. Automatically renews | Free |
Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 17 Apr 2023 |
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Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
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Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$19.99
For the first month. Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$94/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 17 Apr 2023
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
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- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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Map your progress
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- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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